Capa assumes as chief of Cebu City Police

CEBU, Philippines - Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, the Police Regional Office- 7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations, has assumed as officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday.

Capa assumed the post after Senior Superintendent Noli Romana was reassigned to the Civil Security Group in Camp Crame.

Capa said that while his main focus will be CCPO, his new post will be concurrent to his responsibilities at PRO-7.

 “It is a concurrent position. It is a matter of managing my time dealing with regional concerns, but mostly Cebu City concerns,” he said.

He said he has spoken with Romana about the administrative aspects of the position yesterday.

“I will help as long as I can,” Capa said.

Capa said he accepts the challenge and is even excited for the preparations for the Sinulog celebration next month.

“I am excited about Sinulog, it is my first big event,” he said.

At present, he is also working on security preparations for the holiday season.

Capa said he wants to debunk the theory that the crime rate in the city increases during the holidays and one way of doing so is for the police to exert extra effort. 

He said he also wants to intensify the city police’s anti-drug operations.

Capa said he has zero tolerance to incompetence, corruption, and shenanigans in the police force.

He said he will work closely with station commanders and will check on the agreement that enforced the “one strike policy” that Romana initiated last month. The policy aims to crack the whip on police stations failing to curb robberies in their area of jurisdiction.

Confirmed

Romana, for his part, confirmed the reassignment, and has spoken to Mayor Michael Rama about it yesterday.

The transfer order, which took effect last December 4, 2014, was signed by Police Director Jaime Hermo Morente, Director for Personnel and Records Management.

Romana said the transfer is an opportunity for promotion, as the position is closer to the star rank. 

“Yung organization ng PNP ay very dynamic. Hindi naman siguro sinadya na sabay-sabay mag-retire ang several generals,” Romana said.

He said being appointed as head of the Cebu City police is his greatest achievement. He said he wants his successor to continue the programs he has started, particularly the continuing values formation among policemen.

 “Kahit na hindi pa natapos ang mga envisioned programs and changes, slowly naman talaga ang movement nun. It will not only take one year and four months as the chief director to implement those changes,” he said.

“Nakita ko kasi na ang bottom line problem is ang mga policemen ay problematic na sa kanilang mga bahay kaya pagpasok sa work ay ineffective siya. Dati na may value formation pero kulang parin because the problem with regard to the involvement of policemen in illegal activities ay andun pa rin,” he added.

These seminars, he said, also enhance the capabilities of policemen in the area of financial management.

Rama, for his part, admits asking Romana if he wants him to fight the relief order but eventually gave in upon learning that the transfer is for a potential promotion.

“I have to respect kay sila man ang nakahibaw sa ilang level…dili ko ma-wonder kay permi man ko andam. Naa pa man koy regional director,” Rama said.—  JMO (FREEMAN)